How to get a job as a PCT

Hello,
I would love to get a job as a PCT at a local hospital or one in a near by city as I really want to work in a hospital setting. I am currently enrolled in a CNA course that ends in March. How do I go about finding a job as a PCT? What do I need to do to stand out as a student and in the application pool?
How competitive is it to get a job as a PCT? Is a lot of experience needed?
Others in the class that I've spoken with thus far don't seem to know about PCTs and are either taking the course to get a job in a nursing home or because it is a prereq. I do not have any health care experience yer but I have completed prereqs to get into most of the BSN programs in my area. However I need a job asap and experience as well and becoming a PCT seems like the way to go!
Thanks for any advice

From what I've gathered on the site (and some other research) I think you would need to get a job at a nursing home or something of the sort for AT LEAST a year. A lot of hospitals will not hire you unless you have at least one year experience. I'm not really sure where you are from but that's how it is in MD. Hope this helps a little.

Nov 30, '10

Sometimes even having a job at a nursing home won't do any good. The job postings from hospitals in my area specifically say "at least one year HOSPITAL experience" so maybe getting in as a secretary even dietary or housekeeping. Anything to get your foot in the door..

Dec 2, '10

I'm a CCT (Critical Care Tech) in an ER and I needed at least 2 years on EMS experience, plus phlebotomy and EKG certs..along with recommendations, I really think the only difference between a CCT and PCT is the phlebotomy so I would think it would be something similar in requirements. Hope this helps!

Dec 9, '10

It depends on the hospital...I would look into what the requirements are for the hospitals are looking into applying.

At my hospital (our PCTs are called nurse techs), you have to be enrolled full time in a nursing program and be in good standing and complete at least 2 clinical rotations. For the interview, we also need at least 1 letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor.

Dec 9, '10

melosaur, it sounds like they only want to hire potential nurses to be PCT.

Dec 9, '10

I think all of the responses are good but I don't understand why everyone wants us to jump through a thousand hoops, run 50 marathons, and eat our own foot before we can get a job somewhere. I have read in many places that CNAs and PCTs don't get paid that much as is and now they want us to start out in housekeeping which i can only imagine has worse pay. People are quitting their high paying full time jobs for this and are bound to be homeless taking this route. I understand that one must start at the bottom but this is ridiculous. Sorry I just had to vent a little bit. I make okay money now but I barely make enough to stay in my apt in the inner city (and not the good part either). I'm sure I would be taking a pay cut as a CNA which is fine with me but anything lower would be cutting it close. You have to make at least a certain amount to have the apt. I'm not saying I'm below this type of work in any way but I don't live at home where most things are free nor do I have a husband or boyfriend who is kind of enough to let me pursue my dreams. It's just me, frustrated me. I'm done.

Dec 9, '10

My advice is to be also to try to get your foot in the door in any department. I started in transportation and then applied to the nursery and got accepted. However you will be competitive with your training perhaps do some volunteering. I am hopeful that things will turn out well for you.

Dec 9, '10

Its not true whate everyone is saying, see the specific post and then you will see what qualifications are needed. In the hospital I work in now there were no requirments to become a pct because they trained you themselves and the pay was decen. It was still more than what I was making as a CNA. Best of luck to you

I think all of the responses are good but I don't understand why everyone wants us to jump through a thousand hoops, run 50 marathons, and eat our own foot before we can get a job somewhere. I have read in many places that CNAs and PCTs don't get paid that much as is and now they want us to start out in housekeeping which i can only imagine has worse pay. People are quitting their high paying full time jobs for this and are bound to be homeless taking this route. I understand that one must start at the bottom but this is ridiculous. Sorry I just had to vent a little bit. I make okay money now but I barely make enough to stay in my apt in the inner city (and not the good part either). I'm sure I would be taking a pay cut as a CNA which is fine with me but anything lower would be cutting it close. You have to make at least a certain amount to have the apt. I'm not saying I'm below this type of work in any way but I don't live at home where most things are free nor do I have a husband or boyfriend who is kind of enough to let me pursue my dreams. It's just me, frustrated me. I'm done.

Well I too don't have a husband or boyfriend to support me while I pursue my dreams and I have two children to take care of. But I don't want them to grow up with a waitress for a mama and have wanted to become a nurse for years. I've completed my prereqs for BSN programs in my area but can not afford to go to one, I'd have to take out over the maximum amount of loans to pay our rent and tuition! I live in a studio-house (yeah they exist, I think mine might be the only one tho) in a town called Lakewood WA, prehaps you've heard of it...
So I am taking a CNA course this January which once I pass I get bumped up the waitlist for their LPN program that starts next fall *and* will get a school based tuition grant for the LPN program. That way I can use the little loan money I have left to help with living expenses. I will have to work as a CNA somewhere while I wait for next fall to roll around and would like that to be in a hospital setting *just like everyone else and their mom who supports them*
Okay, sorry for rambling but your vent just made me have to vent too

Dec 12, '10

mamayogibear- I don't know how you are doing it but I guess this is the what we go through to live "the good life". What doesn't kill you makes you stronger (and that is easier to say than to accept as reality). Good Luck to you and I'm sure all will work out. You seem to have a set plan and that's how it starts.

Dec 12, '10

hey mamabear,
you may want to check out assisted living as well (in case you can't get into PCT yet - as mentioned, usually they want more experience) - as it gives you great experience and usually there's a lot of turnover with the CNAs (though not all the care managers are CNAs) as it is hard work.

as for nursing - working in assisted living/nursing homes first would give you a great taste of the field (and working with "different" staff).

btw, there are a couple of females in my nursing class that are single moms. There are scholarships available for single moms - ask the school and do the research. keep seeking and it will be opened to you

melosaur, it sounds like they only want to hire potential nurses to be PCT.

That's why I said it depends on hospital

In my experience with the hospitals around here, PCT, PCA (patient care assistant), PCNA (patient care nursing assistant), "tech" and NT (nurse tech) have been used interchangeably with a few minor differences. I used to work as PCNA at another hospital before I became an NT, and that hospital also had PCT's. The only difference between the PCT & the PCNA was that the PCT could draw blood. That hospital also only wanted to hire nursing students as PCTs (and I feel like I got jipped, because I was a nursing student at that time lol)